Former Google Korea employee serving as Cheong Wa Dae youth secretary reports 16.1 billion won in assets...11.9 billion in stocks

[Financial News] Former Google Korea employee Kim Tae-won, secretary for youth and future affairs at the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea, reported assets of 16.1 billion won, making him the wealthiest incumbent public official among those whose assets were disclosed in October. Securities, including stocks, accounted for 11.9 billion won, or 74% of his assets.
Among retirees, former North Pyongan Province governor Lee Se-ung had the most, with 275.9 billion won in assets, an increase of 117.2 billion won from his previous declaration.
According to the “October 2026 Ad Hoc Asset Registration Disclosures” released on the 23rd by the Public Service Ethics Committee in the Government, the disclosures covered 82 public officials who were newly appointed or underwent a change in status, such as a promotion or retirement, between July 2 and August 1. The declared assets included not only those of the officials themselves but also those of family members subject to registration, including spouses.

Secretary Kim declared assets of 16.14241 billion won. In July, he was selected as the inaugural secretary for youth and future affairs, a post in the newly established office at Cheong Wa Dae dedicated to youth policy. Born in 1980, he graduated from Korea University’s Department of Sociology and went on to serve as managing director of global business and as a director (executive vice president) at Google Korea. In 2024, he joined digital advertising company InnoRed and became its co-CEO.
Secretary Kim’s securities holdings were worth 11.93816 billion won. He held shares in major U.S. technology companies, including Alphabet, Google’s parent company, as well as NVIDIA, Microsoft, Apple, Meta Platforms and Netflix. His domestic stocks included 650 shares of Samsung Electronics, 15 of SK hynix, 140 of Naver and 650 of Kakao Corp.
He held 13,886 shares of Alphabet in his own name across different share classes. He also declared 61,549 unlisted shares in InnoRed, where he had served as co-CEO, and 80 shares in Bless Moon. The declared value of the unlisted shares in the two companies totaled 1.13596 billion won.
Among his real estate holdings, he declared an apartment at Park Tower in Yongsan-dong 5-ga, Yongsan District, Seoul (124.8m2), valued at 2.384 billion won. He declared a 2023 Porsche Taycan 4S valued at 84.47 million won. His bank deposits totaled 1.53528 billion won, and he also held virtual assets, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, worth 5.32 million won.
The second-wealthiest incumbent was Oh Seok-geun, Busan’s vice mayor for future innovation, who declared 8.00474 billion won. Securities accounted for 4.88168 billion won, about 61% of his total assets. The official, the official’s spouse and the official’s second daughter held shares in Penitrium Bio. He also declared a detached house in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun District, Seoul, in his own name, valued at 964 million won. Bonds totaled 2.05 billion won.
Sim Uk-gi, head of the Daejeon Regional Tax Office, ranked third, with assets of 5.7126 billion won. His main assets were bank deposits worth 2.75759 billion won and buildings worth 2.43214 billion won. The declared value of an apartment in Ricentz, Jamsil-dong, Songpa District, Seoul (82.5m2), registered in his name, was 2.411 billion won.

Among retirees, former North Pyongan Province governor Lee Se-ung stood out for the increase in his assets. He declared 275.95124 billion won, up 117.2264 billion won from his previous declared amount of 158.72484 billion won.
Most of the increase came from securities. Lee’s declared securities holdings rose by 116.23446 billion won, from 106.35479 billion won previously to 222.58925 billion won. In other words, stocks and other securities accounted for about 81% of his total assets.
Lee held shares in major domestic companies, including 840,500 shares of Samsung Electronics, as well as shares in Korean Air, LG Electronics, Kia and Hanjin KAL. The number of Samsung Electronics shares he held fell by 10,600 from the previous declaration, but the total declared value of his securities rose substantially. The declaration cited changes in share values and other factors as reasons for the change in assets.
Lee declared land worth 38.19903 billion won and buildings worth 9.518 billion won. Golf and condominium memberships in his spouse’s name were also valued at 332.33 million won.
The second-wealthiest retiree was Ha Il-su, former chairman of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare, who declared 6.52851 billion won. Buildings, including an apartment and commercial properties in Banpo-dong, Seocho District, Seoul, accounted for most of his assets, at 5.04044 billion won.
Kim Dong-geuk, former chairman of the Government Employees Pension Service, ranked third, declaring 6.13556 billion won. Buildings, including an apartment and commercial properties in Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and commercial properties in Munjeong-dong, Songpa District, were valued at 5.55057 billion won. He also held golf and condominium memberships worth 106.7 million won.
Five current and former secretaries affiliated with the Office of the President of the Republic of Korea were among those covered by the disclosures. In addition to Secretary Kim Tae-won, former overseas media secretary Choi Seong-a declared 5.02139 billion won. Secretary for national agenda Kim Rak-jung declared 711.5 million won, while former secretary for national agenda Han Sang-ik declared 697.25 million won. Overseas media secretary Lee Seung-won had more debt than assets, leaving him with a net worth of minus 28.59 million won.
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